Camarines Sur History

Long before the coming of the Spaniards, the area now covered by Camarines Sur were settled by the Isarog-Agta and Iraya-Agta who lived near or around the mountains. The Spaniards explored the area in the second part of the 16th century establishing the Bicol province. Later, this huge area was divided into two: Camarines and Ibalon (now Sorsogon and Albay).

The name Camarines is believed to have derived from the local term kamalig which means small nipa or bamboo-made huts and Hispanized into camarins referring to small rice granaries which were ubiquitous in the area. The territory of what is now Camarines Sur underwent partitions and re-partitions until it was finally established through Act 2809, the law passed by the Philippine Congress on March 3, 1919 to split Ambos Camarines into Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

Elias Angeles and Felix Plazo ignited the Philippine Revolution in Camarines Sur but it was General Vicente Lukban who organized the revolutionary government in the area. The province was occupied by the Americans since 1900 until 1942 and the Japanese invaded the locality in 1942. Wenceslao Q. Vinzons organized guerrillas against the Japanese but he was soon captured.

On June 6, 1955, the capital of Camarines Sur was transferred from Naga City to the adjoining town of Pili by virtue of Republic Act 1336.

Economy of Camarines Sur

Camarines Sur is a major rice producing province in the country. other agricultural products are abaca, pili nuts, corn, fish, poultry, egg, and livestock.

In recent years, the province rose to become one of the top-most visited areas in the country particularly in the Caramoan Peninsula where one episodes of the “Survivor US” was filmed. Moreover, the provincial government built world-class facilities for water and other sports and now sportsmen and women visit the province to join some of the games being played there.

In the town of Pasacao, there is a large coconut oil mill, the only one found in the province.